The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-07-06

bands in brave and manly combat, I'M
touched by dishonor, after q baptism in
bloed that made the gray jacket a
mantle Of glory, and we are as willing
your people should keep them rs ours.
They are IN the hands of our Government
and brethren to whom our honor should
be as dear as their own. Never again will
our old battle-hags wave in strife. They
have gone down forever, but they went
down in glory and in honor. They are
dead, and We love and follow alone now
the living flag, which floats from Key
West to BehriDg Straits, from Bunker Hill
to San Francisco"
Speeches were also made by General W.
f. (Baldy) Smith, General Joshua I. Owen,
General Isaac P. Wistar, Colonel John H.
Tsggart and others for the blue, and
Colonel Charles T. Lohr, secretary of
Pickett's division association; Colonel ]. F.
Croker, Colonel Robert M. Striben Dr. J.
A. Marshal, Colonel Tindleum Smith.
Colonel Kirk Otey and others on benalf of
the gray.
John w. Frazier, secretary OF the Com
mittee of Arrangements, stated that letters
OF regret had been received from the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet, from Senator Sher.
man, Governor Fitz Hugh Lee, Hon. Ed
win M. Filler, Mayor of Philadelphia;
General Louis Wagner, Hon. George w.
Childs, George William Curtis, Charles A.
Dana, General d. II. Hastings, Adjutant-
General of Pennsylvania; Gibson Peacock
and others.
The Presidents letter was read. 1t was
as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
"WAsHIEGToN, D. c., June "a, 1887.
81 have received your invitation to
attend, as guest of the Philadelphia
Brigade, a reunion of ex-Contederate
soldiers of Pickett's Division who
survived their terrible charge at
Gettysburg, and those of the
Union army still living by whom ii was
heroically resisted. The fraternal meeting
OF these soldiers upon the battlefield where,
twenty -four years ago, in deadly fray they
hercely sought each others lives, where
they saw their comrades fall, and where
all their thoughts were of vengeance and
destruction, will illustrate the general i'm
pulse of brave men and their honest desire
for peace and reconciliation.
"The friendly assault there to be made
will be resistless, because inspired by
American chiYalry and its results will be
glorious, because conquered hearts will be
its trophies of success. Thereafter this
battle field will be consecrated by a victory
which shall pressge the end of the bitter
ness OF strife, the exposure OF the
sincerity which conceals hatred
by professions of kindness, the
condemnation of frenzied appeals to
passion for unworthy purposes, and the
beating down of all that stands in the way
of the destiny of our united couatry.
While those who fought and who have so
much TO forgive lead In the pleasant ways
of peace, how wicked appear the traffic in
sectional hate and the betrayal of
patriotic sentiment. 1t surely can not
be wrong to desire the settled quiet
which lights FOR our entire country the
path to prosperity and greatness; nor need
the lessons of the war be forgotten, and its
results jeopsrdized in the wish for that
genuine fraternity which inspires national
pride and glory. should be very glad to
accept your invitation and be with you at
this interesting reunion, but other arrange
ments already made and my official duties
here will prevent my doing so.
Hoping that the occasion will be as
successful aud useful ss its promoters can
desire, / am yours very truly,
"GRovER CLEVELAND"
Senator Sherman's letter which has al
ready been published, was also read.